Dear Editor,
Your editorial “Bridging the Divide Between Majors” (Jan. 26) asserts that “departmental divisions” hinder students’ opportunities to take courses outside of their major. The School of the Arts shares your concerns. Improving students’ ability to move between departments and disciplines is a priority for us, and, while not instantaneous, we have made considerable improvement.

Nearly six years ago, a team of U.S. Navy SEALs raided the home of Osama bin Laden, killing the terrorist leader and burying his body at sea only hours later. The following day, the news of his death dominated my seventh grade literature class as students cheered what President Obama called “the most significant achievement to date in our nation's effort to defeat al Qaeda.” But what began as a celebration soon erupted into a heated argument between me and my classmates over their glorification of a violent death.

I went into my gap year in Paris with preconceived notions of how much I would learn about the language and culture of France. But at the end of my experience, I realized that immersing yourself in an unfamiliar culture teaches more than that. I learned how to wonder about the way the world looks to those not standing in my shoes.

I stumbled across yet another self-care comic while scrolling through Tumblr the other day. Titled “50 Ways to Take a Break,” it features illustrations of candles, bubble baths, tea, and nature. Underneath was the user’s caption: “Practice self-care!!!” It was nothing new, but after seeing this phrase recycled hundreds of times over my Facebook and Tumblr feeds, I couldn’t help but roll my eyes.